Cloud-based system for processing of decodable indicia

ABSTRACT

A data decoding system can comprise a client computer including an imaging device and one or more servers executing at least one decoding process. The client computer can be configured to acquire an image of decodable indicia and to process the acquired image by:
         (i) identifying one or more areas of interest within the image;   (ii) cropping the image based on the identified areas of interest;   (iii) clipping one or more images from the image based on the identified areas of interest;   (iv) increasing or reducing a pixel resolution of at least part of the image;   (v) converting the image to a grayscale image or to a monochrome image; and/or   (vi) compressing the image using a compression algorithm.       

     The decoding process can be configured, responsive to receiving a decoding request comprising the processed image, to decode the decodable indicia and to transmit the decoding operation result to the client computer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is generally related to systems which process decodableindicia and are specifically related to cloud-based systems for theprocessing of decodable indicia.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Decodable indicia are patterns, marks, or messages which are designed tobe scanned and interpreted by computer and/or other mechanical and/orautomated methods. Many known types of decodable indicia fall under thecategory of barcodes. Barcodes are graphical representations of data,the most common of which are referred to as one dimensional (1D) and twodimensional (2D) barcodes. 1D barcodes are graphical entities thatrepresent data by varying the widths and spacing of parallel lines. 2Dbarcodes are also graphical entities that represent data, but inaddition to the parallel lines, or bars, a 2D barcode may containrectangles, dots, hexagons and other geometric patterns in twodimensions. The data encoded in the barcodes are interpreted by opticalscanners and/or software. Barcodes can be scanned by special opticalscanners called barcode readers as well as by general purpose devicessuch as smart phones. Other types of decodable indicia include opticalcharacter recognition (OCR), glyphs, or other visual markings. Also,non-visual technologies such as magnetic strips, radio-frequencyidentification (RFID), biometric, audio and/or speech recognition andother non-visual technologies fall under the definition of decodableindicia as well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, there is provided a data decoding system comprising aclient computer equipped with an imaging device and one or more serversexecuting at least one decoding process. The client computer can beconfigured to acquire an image of decodable indicia and to process theacquired image by performing at least one of:

-   -   (i) identifying one or more areas of interest within the image;    -   (ii) cropping the image based on the identified areas of        interest;    -   (iii) clipping one or more images from the image based on the        identified areas of interest;    -   (iv) increasing or reducing a pixel resolution of at least part        of the image;    -   (v) converting the image to a grayscale image or to a monochrome        image; and    -   (vi) compressing the image using a compression algorithm.

The client computer can be further configured to transmit the processedimage to the servers for decoding the decodable indicia. The decodingprocess can be configured, responsive to receiving a decoding requestcomprising the image, to decode the decodable indicia into a decodedmessage, and to transmit the decoding operation result to the clientcomputer.

In another embodiment, there is provided a mobile communication terminalcomprising a microprocessor, a memory, and an imaging device configuredto acquire an image of decodable indicia. The mobile communicationterminal can be configured to pre-process the acquired image byperforming at least one of:

-   -   (i) cropping the image based on a configurable setting;    -   (ii) identifying one or more areas of interest within the image;    -   (iii) clipping one or more images from the image based on the        identified areas of interest;    -   (iv) increasing or reducing a pixel resolution of at least part        of the image;    -   (v) converting the image to a grayscale image or to a monochrome        image; and    -   (vi) compressing the image using a compression algorithm.

The mobile communication terminal can be further configured to transmitthe pre-processed image to an external computer for decoding thedecodable indicia.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show aspectsof one or more embodiments of the invention. However, it should beunderstood that the present invention is not limited to the precisearrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary hardware platformfor carrying out a method of acquiring and pre-processing an image by amobile communication terminal;

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b depict flowcharts of various embodiments of a methodof acquiring and pre-processing an image by a mobile communicationterminal;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a component diagram of one embodimentof a data decoding system;

FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of one embodiment of a method of decodableindicia decoding by the data decoding system.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generallybeing placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In thedrawings, like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout thevarious views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Capture of decodable indicia can utilize many types of technologies.Laser scanning or linear imaging can be used for the capture of 1Dbarcodes. Some 2D barcodes known as stacked codes, such as PDF417, canbe read using these technologies as well, however 2D bar codes known asmatrix codes require devices which can capture a 2 dimensional (2D)image of the bar code. These 2D images are also useful for decoding 1D,2D stacked codes, as well as OCR or other visual decodable indicia. Forthings like RFID, magnetic strips or other non-visual decodable indicia,these may involve use of RF, magnetic reading heads, or other non-visualmeans of capture. For the purposes of this invention, the capture of anydecodable indicia will be referred to generally as “imaging”, and thecaptured representation of the decodable indicia by a device will bereferred to as an “image”.

A growing variety of devices are currently being used for bar codereading and decoding, ranging from specialized scanners to smart phones.Supporting multiple hardware and software platforms can becomechallenging for suppliers of decoding software. One solution tosupporting a large number of bar code reading devices representing avariety of platforms is to split the imaging and decoding functions: animage comprising decodable indicia can be acquired by a portable orstationary scanner, e.g., by a point-of-sale (POS) device, and can thenbe transmitted to an external server for decoding. Since the imagingclient can be completely agnostic with respect to decoding algorithmsemployed by the server, the problem of supporting a large variety ofclient platforms can be solved by creating thin client imagingapplications. A typical thin client imaging application only needs to beable to transfer an image of decodable indicia to a decoding server overa network, and then receive decoded message data from the server. Asused herein, “message” is intended to denote a character stringcomprising alphanumeric and/or non-alphanumeric characters. An encodedmessage can be used to convey information, such as identification of thesource and the model of a product, for example, in a UPC code.

In a further aspect, before transmitting the acquired image to adecoding server, the image acquiring device can pre-process the image inorder to reduce the bandwidth usage and/or transmission time. In oneembodiment, the pre-processing can include defining within the image oneor more regions of interest and cropping the acquired image by removingone or more areas of the image located outside of the regions ofinterest. In another embodiment, the pre-processing can include blurring(i.e., decreasing the pixel resolution) one or more areas of the imagelocated outside of the regions of interest. In another embodiment, thepre-processing can include increasing the pixel resolution of one ormore areas of the image located within the regions of interest. Inanother embodiment, the pre-processing can include clipping one or moreimages from the acquired image based on the defined regions of interest.

In a further aspect, the regions of interest can be defined by locatingone or more decodable indicia within the image, or, alternatively, byaccepting a user input (e.g., via a touch screen) indicating the regionsof interest.

In a further aspect, the pre-processing can include converting a colorimage into a grayscale image or converting a color or a grayscale imageinto a monochrome image.

The pre-processed image can be compressed, for example, by transformingthe raw image byte stream to a compressed image file (e.g., GIFF, TIFF,JPEG or other standard or proprietary format).

In one embodiment, there is provided a data decoding system comprisingan imaging client computer (provided, e.g., by a portable mobilecommunication terminal) and one or more decoding server computerscommunicatively coupled to a communication network. The decoding servercomputers can execute one or more decoding processes. A “computer”herein shall refer to a programmable device for data processing,including a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and at least onecommunication interface. For example, in one embodiment, a computer canbe provided by an Intel-based server running Linux operating system. Inanother embodiment, a computer can be provided by a virtual server,i.e., an isolated instance of a guest operating system running within ahost operating system. In another embodiment, a computer can be providedby a smartphone. A “communication network” or “network” herein shallrefer to a set of hardware and software components implementing aplurality of communication channels between two or more computers. Anetwork can be provided, e.g., by a local area network (LAN), or a widearea network (WAN). While different networks can be designated herein,it is recognized that a single network as seen from the network layer ofthe OSI model can comprise a plurality of lower layer networks, i.e.,what can be regarded as a single Internet Protocol (IP) network, caninclude a plurality of different physical networks.

The imaging client computer comprising an integrated and/or peripheralimaging device can acquire an image of decodable indicia (e.g.,responsive to a user interface action). Upon successfully acquiring animage, the imaging client can pre-process the acquired image by croppingthe image and/or blurring one or more areas of the image, as describedin details herein infra. The imaging client computer can then transmitthe pre-processed image to a decoding computer executing at least onedecoding process. Responsive to receiving from an imaging client adecoding request including a decodable indicia image, the decodingprocess can decode the decodable indicia into a decoded message andtransmit the decoded message and/or decoding operation completion resultback to the imaging client.

In another embodiment, there is provided a mobile communication terminalcomprising an imaging device capable of acquiring an image of decodableindicia. The mobile communication terminal can be configured to acquirean image of decodable indicia, pre-process the image, and transmit theimage via a communication network to an external computer for decoding.

In a further aspect, the pre-processing performed by the mobilecommunication terminal before transmitting the image for decoding cancomprise displaying the acquired image and accepting the user input(e.g., via a touch screen) indicating one or more regions of interest.

In one embodiment, the pre-processing can further include cropping theacquired image by removing one or more areas of the image locatedoutside of the identified regions of interest. In another embodiment,the pre-processing can include blurring (i.e., decreasing the pixelresolution) one or more areas of the image located outside of theregions of interest. In another embodiment, the pre-processing caninclude increasing the pixel resolution of one or more areas of theimage located within the regions of interest. In another embodiment, thepre-processing can include clipping one or more images from the acquiredimage based on the defined regions of interest.

In a further aspect, the pre-processing can include converting a colorimage into a grayscale image or converting a color or a grayscale imageinto a monochrome image.

The pre-processed image can be compressed, for example, by transformingthe raw image byte stream to a compressed image file (e.g., GIFF, TIFF,JPEG or other standard or proprietary format).

Upon completing the pre-processing, the mobile communication terminalcan transmit one or more pre-processed images to an external computerfor decoding, and, responsive to receiving decoding results, can displayone or more decoded messages and/or decoding operations completioncodes.

An exemplary hardware platform for carrying out the above describedimage acquiring and pre-processing by a mobile communication terminal isshown and described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 1. Themobile communication terminal 1000 can include an imaging device 1040comprising an image sensor 1032. The image sensor 1032 can in turncomprise a multiple pixel image sensor array 1033 having pixels arrangedin rows and columns, associated column circuitry 1034, and row circuitry1035. In one embodiment, the image sensor 1032 can be provided by acharge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor. In another embodiment, theimage sensor can be provided by a complementary metal-oxidesemiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. A skilled artisan would appreciatethe fact that other types of image sensors are within the scope of theinvention.

Associated with the image sensor 1032 can be amplifier circuitry 1036and an analog to digital converter 1037 configured to convert the imageinformation in the form of analog signals read out of image sensor array1033 into image information in the form of digital signals. The imagesensor 1032 can also have an associated timing and control circuit 1038to control the exposure period of image sensor 1032 and/or gain appliedto the amplifier circuitry 1036. The noted circuit components 1032,1036, 1037, and 1038 can be packaged into a common imaging device 1040.

The mobile communication terminal 1000 can be configured to read outanalog signals representative of light incident on one or more pixels.The read out analog signals can be amplified by the analog signalamplifier 1036. The analog signals can then be fed to the input of theADC 1037. The resulting digital values representative of the analogsignals can be stored in a system memory such as RAM 1080. The imageframe data stored in RAM 1080 can be in the form of multi-bit pixelvalues, with each multi-bit pixel value representing light incident on apixel of image sensor array 1033.

Memory 1085 of terminal 1000 can include RAM 1080, a nonvolatile memorysuch as EPROM 1082 and a storage memory device 1084 such as may beprovided by a flash memory or a hard drive memory.

The mobile communication terminal 1000 can include a direct memoryaccess unit (DMA) 1070 for routing image information read out from imagesensor 1032 that has been subject to conversion and storage to RAM 1080.In another embodiment, terminal 1000 can employ a system bus providingfor bus arbitration mechanism (e.g., a PCI bus) thus eliminating theneed for a central DMA controller. Other embodiments of the system busarchitecture and/or direct memory access components providing forefficient data transfer between the image sensor 1032 and RAM 1080 canbe provided.

In another aspect, the mobile communication terminal 1000 can include avariable focus imaging lens 1110 for use in focusing an image of adecodable indicia located within a field of view 140 on a substrate 50onto image sensor array 1033. Imaging light rays can be transmittedabout imaging axis 25. Variable focus imaging lens 1110 can be adaptedto be capable of multiple best focus distances and multiple focallengths.

The mobile communication terminal 1000 can also include an illuminationpattern light source bank 1204 for use in generating an illuminationpattern 60 substantially corresponding to a field of view 140 ofterminal 1000 and an aiming pattern light source bank 1208 for use ingenerating an aiming pattern 70 on substrate 50. Shaping optics 1205 and1209 can be provided for shaping light from bank 1204 and bank 1208 intopattern 60 and into pattern 70 respectively. In use, terminal 1000 canbe oriented by an operator with respect to a substrate 50 bearingdecodable indicia 15 in such manner that aiming pattern 70 is projectedon a decodable indicia 15. Each of illumination pattern light sourcebank 1204 and aiming pattern light source bank 1208 can include one ormore light sources. Variable focus imaging lens 1110 can be controlledwith use of focus control module 30 and the illumination assemblycomprising illumination pattern light source bank 1204 and aimingpattern light source bank 1208 can be controlled with use ofillumination assembly control module 1220. Focus control module 30 cansend signals to variable focus imaging lens 1110 e.g., for changing abest focus distance and/or a focal length of variable focus imaging lens1110. Illumination assembly control module 1220 can send signals toillumination pattern light source bank 1204 e.g., for changing a levelof illumination output by illumination pattern light source bank 1204.

The mobile communication terminal 1000 can also include a number ofperipheral devices, e.g., a display 1304 for displaying such informationas captured image frames, keyboard 1404, pointing device 1406, andtrigger 1408 which may be used to make active a trigger signal foractivating frame readout and/or certain decoding processes. The mobilecommunication terminal 1000 can be adapted so that activation of trigger1408 activates trigger signal and initiates acquiring an image ofdecodable indicia.

The mobile communication terminal 1000 can also include variousinterface circuits for coupling the peripheral devices to systemaddress/data bus (system bus) 1500, for communication with CPU 1060which can also be coupled to system bus 1500. The mobile communicationterminal 1000 can include circuit 1026 for coupling image sensor timingand control circuit 1038 to system bus 1500, interface circuit 1118 forcoupling focus control module 30 to system bus 1500, interface circuit1218 for coupling illumination control assembly 1220 to system bus 1500,interface circuit 1302 for coupling display 1304 to system bus 1500, andinterface circuit 1402 for coupling keyboard 1404, pointing device 1406,and trigger 1408 to system bus 1500.

In a further aspect, the mobile communication terminal 1000 can includeone or more I/O interfaces 1604, 1608 for providing communications withexternal devices (e.g., a decoding server or a peer terminal 100). I/Ointerfaces 1604, 1608 can be provided by any combination of knownnetwork interfaces, e.g., Ethernet (IEEE 802.3), USB, IEEE 802.11,Bluetooth, CDMA, GSM.

In another aspect, the mobile communication terminal 1000 can includeCPU 1060 which can be configured to execute one or more softwareprocesses. A “process” herein shall refer to an instance of a computerprogram that is being executed; in some operating systems, severalprocesses can be instantiated simultaneously from the same computerprogram.

In one embodiment, one or more software processes can be configured toread out image data stored in memory 1080 and perform imagepre-processing as described herein supra, transmitting one or more imagefor remote decoding, or performing local decoding. In one embodiment, atleast some of the image pre-processing functions described herein supracan be performed by hardware modules and/or by a combination of hardwaremodules and software processes.

FIG. 2 a depicts a flowchart of one embodiment of a method of acquiringand pre-processing an image by a mobile communication terminal.

At steps 2010-2020, the mobile communication terminal can perform a GUIinput loop, and responsive to establishing at step 2020 that Get Imagebutton has been pressed by the terminal's user, the processing cancontinue at step 2030; otherwise, the method can branch to step 2050. Askilled artisan would appreciate the fact that other ways of initiatingan image acquiring operation are within the scope of this disclosure.

At step 2030, the mobile communication terminal can acquire an image ofdecodable indicia. The image of decodable indicia acquired by the mobilecommunication terminal can be provided by a raw image byte stream or acompressed image byte stream (e.g., GIFF, TIFF, JPEG or other standardor proprietary format).

At step 2040, the mobile communication terminal can display the acquiredimage, and the method can loop back to the GUI input loop at step 2010.

At steps 2050-2060, responsive to detecting a touch screen input, themobile communication terminal can receive user input defining one ormore regions of interest within the displayed image of decodableindicia. Otherwise, the mobile communication terminal can perform otherprocessing at step 2070 and the method can loop back to step 2010.

At step 2080, the mobile communication terminal can crop the image byremoving one or more areas of the image located outside of the regionsof interest and/or blur (i.e., decrease the pixel resolution) one ormore areas of the image located outside of the regions of interest.

At step 2090, the mobile communication terminal can transmit theresulting one or more images to an external computer for decoding.

At steps 2100-2110, the mobile communication terminal can perform anetwork input loop, and responsive to establishing that a decodingresult was received, process the received decoding result at step 2120.

In one embodiment, the decoding result can include one or more decodedmessages and/or one or more decoding operation completion codes. Thedecoding operation completion code can, in one embodiment, contain aflag indicating whether the decoding operation was successful.Responsive to ascertaining that the decoding operation was successful,the mobile communication terminal can be configured to display thedecoded message and/or transmit the decoded message to an externalcomputer (e.g., transmitting a retail item identifier to a store serverto retrieve the product information).

In one embodiment, the decoding operation completion code can contain anextended error code indicating the reason for the decoding operationfailure, for example, failed to locate decodable indicia, decodableindicia symbol truncated, insufficient image resolution, etc. In oneembodiment, the mobile communication terminal can be configured todisplay the error message corresponding to the extended error code.

After processing the decoding result at step 2120, the method canterminate.

FIG. 2 b depicts a flowchart of one embodiment of a method of acquiringand pre-processing an image by a mobile communication terminal.

At steps 2210-2220, the mobile communication terminal can perform a GUIinput loop, and responsive to establishing at step 2220 that Get Imagebutton has been pressed by the terminal's user, the processing cancontinue at step 2230; otherwise, the method can branch to step 2250. Askilled artisan would appreciate the fact that other ways of initiatingan image acquiring operation are within the scope of this disclosure.

At step 2230, the mobile communication terminal can acquire an image ofdecodable indicia. The image of decodable indicia acquired by the mobilecommunication terminal can be provided by a raw image byte stream or acompressed image byte stream (e.g., GIFF, TIFF, JPEG or other standardor proprietary format).

At step 2240, the mobile communication terminal can locate decodableindicia within the acquired image.

Responsive to ascertaining at step 2250 that decodable indicia has beensuccessfully located within the acquired image, the processing cancontinue at step 2260; otherwise, at step 2270 the user can be notifiedof a failure to locate decodable indicia within the acquired image, andthe method can loop back to step 2210.

At step 2260, the mobile communication terminal can crop the image byremoving one or more areas of the image located outside of the regionsof interest and/or blur (i.e., decrease the pixel resolution) one ormore areas of the image located outside of the regions of interest.

At step 2280, the mobile communication terminal can transmit theresulting one or more images to an external computer for decoding.

At steps 2290-2300, the mobile communication terminal can perform anetwork input loop, and responsive to establishing that a decodingresult was received, process at step 2310 the received decoding result,as described herein supra. After processing the decoding result at step2310, the method can terminate.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates one embodiment of a decoding systemdescribed herein. The decoding system 1000 of FIG. 1 can comprise aplurality of computers 120 a-120 z communicatively coupled to a network110 a. Network 110 a can be provided, e.g., by Ethernet-based local areanetwork, and can be communicatively coupled to the Internet 170 via oneor more routers 130 a-130 k and/or one or more networks 110 b-110 k. Animaging client 101 a can be provided by a portable encoded informationreading (EIR) terminal communicatively coupled to a local area network110 m via a wireless access point 140. Network 110 m can becommunicatively coupled to the Internet 170 via one or more routers 130m-130 p and/or one or more networks 110 m-110 p. An imaging client 101 bcan be provided by a mobile communication terminal mounted into a POSworkstation and can be communicatively coupled to the local area network110 m via an Ethernet communication interface. An imaging client 101 ccan be provided by a smart phone communicatively coupled to a provider'snetwork 110 r via a GSM/GPRS base station 145. Network 110 r can becommunicatively coupled to the Internet 170 via one or more routers 130r-130 z and/or one or more networks.

In one embodiment, the decoding system 1000 can follow a cloud computingmodel, by providing an on-demand network access to a shared pool ofconfigurable computing resources (e.g., servers, storage, applications,and/or services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released withminimal or nor resource management effort, including interaction withthe service provider, by the consumer (operator of a thin client). Onecharacteristic of the cloud computing model is that a consumer canunilaterally provision computing capabilities, such as CPU power andstorage capacity on the network, as needed automatically withoutrequiring human interaction with the service's provider. The resourcesof the cloud can be accessed by thin clients over a network.

In another aspect, imaging clients can access cloud-based decodingapplications executed by computers 120 a-120 z via a single point ofentry, e.g., via a single IP address or uniform resource identifier(URI). In one embodiment, the single point of entry IP address can beassigned to a load balancing component provided, e.g., by router 130 aor by a dedicated load balancer 120 r. In another embodiment, the singlepoint of entry URI can include a fully-qualified host name resolvable bya DNS server into one or more IP addresses of computers 120 a-120 z. Ina yet another embodiment, the single point of entry URI can include afully-qualified host name resolvable by a DNS server into an IP addressof the dedicated load balancer 120 r which can act as a server-side HTTPproxy by forwarding HTTP requests from the imaging clients 101 a-101 zto HTTP processes running on the decoding computers 120 a-120 z. Theserver-side HTTP proxy can preserve HTTP or application-level sessionsby forwarding all TCP packets from one client to the same server. Thus,an imaging client accessing the cloud-based decoding applications can beagnostic with respect to the number of computers 120 a-120 z, topologyof the local area networks 110 a-110 m, aspects of load balancing amongthe computers 120 a-120 z and other server-side implementation details.

For preventing unauthorized access to the cloud-based decoding services,decoding system 1000 can require an imaging client to be authenticatedbefore processing any decoding requests.

In a further aspect, a decoding process can, responsive to completing adecoding operation, to transmit the decoding operation result includingdecoded message data and/or the decoding operation completion code tothe imaging client. The decoding operation completion code can, in oneembodiment, contain a flag indicating whether the decoding operation wassuccessful. In another embodiment, the decoding operation completioncode can contain the number of decoding attempts performed. In a yetanother embodiment, the decoding operation completion code can containan extended error code indicating the reason for the decoding operationfailure, for example, failed to locate decodable indicia, decodableindicia symbol truncated, insufficient image resolution, etc.

In a further aspect, a decoding request transmitted by the imagingclient can comprise one or more client configuration parameters, forexample, client device model, client device serial number, aperturevalue, shutter speed, and ISO value. In one embodiment, one or moreclient configuration parameters (e.g., aperture value, shutter speed,and ISO value) can be used as input parameters for decoding algorithms.In another embodiment, one or more client configuration parameters(e.g., client device serial number) can be used for usage trackingand/or billing purposes.

In another aspect, the imaging client can be provided by a large varietyof imaging devices. In one embodiment, the imaging client can beprovided by a mobile computing device (e.g., an encoded informationreading (EIR) terminal, or a smartphone) comprising an integratedimaging device or a peripheral imaging device. An integrated imagingdevice can be provided, e.g., by a two-dimensional imager incorporatedinto the housing of the mobile computing device and communicativelycoupled to other components of the mobile computing device, including,e.g., a data bus, a processor or a communication interface. A peripheralimaging device can be provided, e.g., by a still image or video cameradisposed in a separate housing and communicatively coupled to the mobilecomputing device (e.g., via Bluetooth interface).

In another embodiment, the imaging client can be provided by a generalpurpose computing device (e.g., a notebook computer or a desktopcomputer) comprising an integrated imaging device or a peripheralimaging device. In a yet another embodiment, the imaging client can beprovided by a computing device by a computing device integrated into aPOS system (e.g., a retail cashier's workstation) comprising anintegrated imaging device or a peripheral imaging device. As notedherein supra, in one embodiment, the imaging client can be provided byan encoded information reading (EIR) terminal.

FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of one embodiment of a method of decodableindicia decoding by the above described data decoding system.

At step 410, an imaging client can acquire an image containing decodableindicia.

At step 420, the imaging client can pre-process the acquired image. Inone embodiment, the pre-processing can include defining within the imageone or more regions of interest and cropping the acquired image byremoving one or more areas of the image located outside of the regionsof interest. In another embodiment, the pre-processing can includeblurring (i.e., decreasing a pixel resolution) one or more areas of theimage located outside of the regions of interest. In a further aspect,the regions of interest can be defined by locating one or more decodableindicia within the image, or, alternatively, by accepting a user input(e.g., via a touch screen) indicating the regions of interest. Thepre-processed image can then be compressed, for example, by transformingthe raw image byte stream to a compressed image file (e.g., GIFF, TIFF,JPEG or other standard or proprietary format), as described in detailsherein supra.

At step 430, the imaging client can transmit the pre-processed image toa decoding server over a communication network.

At steps 440-450, responsive to receiving the image, the decoding servercan locate and decode the decodable indicia.

At step 460, the decoding server can transmit the decoding result to theimaging client over a communication network. In one embodiment, thedecoding result can include one or more decoded messages and/or one ormore decoding operation completion codes. The decoding operationcompletion code can contain a flag indicating whether the decodingoperation was successful. In one embodiment, the decoding operationcompletion code can contain an extended error code indicating the reasonfor the decoding operation failure, for example, failed to locatedecodable indicia, decodable indicia symbol truncated, insufficientimage resolution, etc.

At steps 470-480, responsive to receiving the decoding result theimaging client can process the result, e.g., by displaying the decodedmessage and/or transmitting the decoded message to an external computer(e.g., transmitting a retail item identifier to a store server toretrieve the product information). After processing the decoding resultat step 480, the method can terminate.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to certain exemplary embodiments, it will be understoodby one skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be affectedtherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by claims that can be supported by the written description anddrawings. Further, where exemplary embodiments are described withreference to a certain number of elements it will be understood that theexemplary embodiments can be practiced utilizing less than the certainnumber of elements.

A small sample of systems, methods, and apparata that are describedherein is as follows:

A1. A data decoding system comprising a client computer and one or moreservers communicatively coupled to a network, said one or more serversexecuting at least one decoding process;

wherein said client computer comprises at least one of: an integratedimaging device, a peripheral imaging device;

wherein said client computer is configured to acquire an image ofdecodable indicia;

wherein said client computer is further configured to process said imageby performing at least one of:

-   -   (i) identifying one or more areas of interest within the image;    -   (ii) cropping said image based on said one or more areas of        interest;    -   (iii) clipping one or more images from said image based on said        one or more areas of interest;    -   (iv) increasing or reducing a pixel resolution of at least part        of said image;    -   (v) converting said image to a grayscale image;    -   (vi) converting said image to a monochrome image;    -   (vii) compressing said image using a compression algorithm;

wherein said client computer is further configured to transmit saidprocessed image to said one or more servers for decoding said decodableindicia;

wherein said at least one decoding process is configured, responsive toreceiving a decoding request comprising said image, to decode saiddecodable indicia into a decoded message; and

wherein said at least one decoding process is further configured,responsive to completing a decoding operation, to transmit at least oneof: said decoded message, a decoding operation completion code to saidclient computer.

A2. The data decoding system of (A1), wherein said client computer isprovided by an encoded information reading (EIR) terminal comprising anEIR device including a two-dimensional imager, said EIR deviceconfigured to perform one of: outputting raw message data containing anencoded message, outputting a decoded message corresponding to anencoded message.

A3. The data decoding system of (A1), wherein said client computer isprovided by a mobile computing device comprising at least one of: anintegrated imaging device, a peripheral imaging device.

A4. The data decoding system of (A1), wherein said client computer isprovided by a general purpose computing device comprising one of: anintegrated imaging device, a peripheral imaging device.

A5. The data decoding system of (A1), wherein said client computer isintegrated into a point-of-sale system, said client computer comprisingat least one of: an integrated imaging device, a peripheral imagingdevice.

A6. The data decoding system of (A1), wherein said image of decodableindicia is provided by one of: a raw image byte stream, a compressedimage byte stream.

A7. The data decoding system of (A1), wherein said decoding requestfurther comprises one or more values of configuration parameters of saidclient computer.

A8. The data decoding system of (A1), wherein said client computer isconfigured to transmit said decoding request to an IP address assignedto one of: a server of said one or more servers, a load balancingcomponent.

B1. A mobile communication terminal comprising:

a microprocessor;

a memory;

an imaging device configured to acquire an image of decodable indicia;

wherein said mobile communication terminal is configured to pre-processsaid image by performing at least one of:

-   -   (i) identifying one or more areas of interest within the image;    -   (ii) cropping said image based on said one or more areas of        interest;    -   (iii) clipping one or more images from said image based on said        one or more areas of interest;    -   (iv) increasing or reducing a pixel resolution of at least part        of said image;    -   (v) converting said image to a grayscale image;    -   (vi) converting said image to a monochrome image; and    -   (vii) compressing said image using a compression algorithm;

wherein said mobile communication terminal is further configured totransmit said pre-processed image to an external computer for decodingsaid decodable indicia.

B2. The mobile communication terminal of (B1), wherein said terminal isintegrated into a point-of-sale system.

B3. The mobile communication terminal of (B1), wherein said decodingrequest further comprises one or more values of configuration parametersof said terminal.

B4. The mobile communication terminal of (B1), wherein said image ofdecodable indicia is provided by one of: a raw image byte stream, acompressed image byte stream.

B5. The mobile communication terminal of (B1), further comprising anencoded information reading (EIR) device selected from the groupconsisting of: an RFID reading device and a magnetic card readingdevice;

wherein said EIR device is configured to perform at least one of:outputting raw message data containing an encoded message and outputtingdecoded message data corresponding to an encoded message.

B6. The mobile communication terminal of (B1), wherein said imagingdevice comprises a two-dimensional image sensor configured to output ananalog signal representative of light reflected by an object locatedwithin a field of view of said imaging device, an amplifier configuredto output an amplified analog signal by amplifying an analog signal readout of said image sensor, and an analog-to-digital (A/D) converterconfigured to convert said analog signal into a digital signalrepresenting said acquired image.

B7. The mobile communication terminal of (B1), further configured totransmit an unprocessed image to said external computer responsive tofailing to identify at least one area of interest within said image.

B8. The mobile communication terminal of (B1), further configured toomit said step of transmitting said image to said external computerresponsive to failing to identify at least one area of interest withinsaid image.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A data decoding system comprising a clientcomputer and one or more servers communicatively coupled to a network,said one or more servers executing at least one decoding process;wherein said client computer comprises at least one of: an integratedimaging device, a peripheral imaging device; wherein said clientcomputer is configured to acquire an image of decodable indicia; whereinsaid client computer is further configured to process said image byperforming at least one of: (i) identifying one or more areas ofinterest within the image; (ii) cropping said image based on said one ormore areas of interest; (iii) clipping one or more images from saidimage based on said one or more areas of interest; (iv) increasing orreducing a pixel resolution of at least part of said image; (v)converting said image to a grayscale image; (vi) converting saidgrayscale image to a monochrome image; (vii) compressing said imageusing a compression algorithm; wherein said client computer is furtherconfigured to transmit said processed image to said one or more serversfor decoding said decodable indicia; wherein said at least one decodingprocess is configured, responsive to receiving a decoding requestcomprising said image, to decode said decodable indicia into a decodedmessage; and wherein said at least one decoding process is furtherconfigured, responsive to completing a decoding operation, to transmit adecoded message back to said client computer, wherein said decodedmessage comprises only a source identifier, and said client computer isfurther configured to transmit said source identifier to an externalcomputer connected to said client computer to retrieve additionalinformation corresponding to said source identifier from said externalcomputer.
 2. The data decoding system of claim 1, wherein said clientcomputer is provided by an encoded information reading (EIR) terminalcomprising an EIR device including a two-dimensional imager, said EIRdevice configured to perform one of: outputting raw message datacontaining an encoded message, outputting a decoded messagecorresponding to an encoded message.
 3. The data decoding system ofclaim 1, wherein said client computer is provided by a mobile computingdevice comprising at least one of: an integrated imaging device, aperipheral imaging device.
 4. The data decoding system of claim 1,wherein said client computer is provided by a general purpose computingdevice comprising one of: an integrated imaging device, a peripheralimaging device.
 5. The data decoding system of claim 1, wherein saidclient computer is integrated into a point-of-sale system, said clientcomputer comprising at least one of: an integrated imaging device, aperipheral imaging device.
 6. The data decoding system of claim 1,wherein said image of decodable indicia is provided by one of: a rawimage byte stream, a compressed image byte stream.
 7. The data decodingsystem of claim 1, wherein said decoding request further comprises oneor more values of configuration parameters of said client computer. 8.The data decoding system of claim 1, wherein said client computer isconfigured to transmit said decoding request to an IP address assignedto one of: a server of said one or more servers, a load balancingcomponent.
 9. A mobile communication terminal comprising: amicroprocessor; a memory; an imaging device configured to acquire animage of decodable indicia; wherein said mobile communication terminalis configured to pre-process said image by performing at least one of:(i) identifying one or more areas of interest within the image; (ii)cropping said image based on said one or more areas of interest; (iii)clipping one or more images from said image based on said one or moreareas of interest; (iv) increasing or reducing a pixel resolution of atleast part of said image; (v) converting said image to a grayscaleimage; (vi) converting said grayscale image to a monochrome image; and(vii) compressing said image using a compression algorithm; wherein saidmobile communication terminal is further configured to transmit saidpre-processed image to an external computer for decoding said decodableindicia and returning a decoded message back to said client computer,wherein said decoded message comprises only a source identifier ofadditional data, and said client computer is further configured totransmit said source identifier to an external computer to retrieve saidadditional data from said external computer.
 10. The mobilecommunication terminal of claim 9, wherein said mobile communicationterminal is integrated into a point-of-sale system.
 11. The mobilecommunication terminal of claim 9, wherein said decoding request furthercomprises one or more values of configuration parameters of saidterminal.
 12. The mobile communication terminal of claim 9, wherein saidimage of decodable indicia is provided by one of: a raw image bytestream, a compressed image byte stream.
 13. The mobile communicationterminal of claim 9, further comprising an encoded information reading(EIR) device selected from the group consisting of: an RFID readingdevice and a magnetic card reading device; wherein said EIR device isconfigured to perform at least one of: outputting raw message datacontaining an encoded message and outputting decoded message datacorresponding to an encoded message.
 14. The mobile communicationterminal of claim 9, wherein said imaging device comprises atwo-dimensional image sensor configured to output an analog signalrepresentative of light reflected by an object located within a field ofview of said imaging device, an amplifier configured to output anamplified analog signal by amplifying an analog signal read out of saidimage sensor, and an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter configured toconvert said analog signal into a digital signal representing saidacquired image.
 15. The mobile communication terminal of claim 9,further configured to transmit an unprocessed image to said externalcomputer responsive to failing to identify at least one area of interestwithin said image.
 16. The mobile communication terminal of claim 9,further configured to omit said step of transmitting said image to saidexternal computer responsive to failing to identify at least one area ofinterest within said image.
 17. A data decoding system comprising aclient computer and one or more servers communicatively coupled to anetwork, said one or more servers executing at least one decodingprocess; wherein said client computer comprises at least one of: anintegrated imaging device, a peripheral imaging device; wherein saidclient computer is configured to acquire an image of decodable indicia;wherein said client computer is further configured to pre-process saidimage locally by performing at least one of: (i) identifying one or moreareas of interest within the image; (ii) cropping said image based onsaid one or more areas of interest; (iii) clipping one or more imagesfrom said image based on said one or more areas of interest; (iv)increasing or reducing a pixel resolution of at least part of saidimage; (v) converting said image to a grayscale image; (vi) convertingsaid grayscale image to a monochrome image; (vii) compressing said imageusing a compression algorithm; wherein said client computer is furtherconfigured to transmit said pre-processed image to the one or moreservers for remotely decoding said decodable indicia; wherein said atleast one decoding process is configured, responsive to receiving adecoding request comprising said image, to decode said decodable indiciainto a decoded message; and wherein said at least one decoding processis further configured, responsive to completing a decoding operation, totransmit at least one of: said decoded message, a decoding operationcompletion code to said client computer, wherein said decoded messageand said code comprise a source identifier, and said client computer isfurther configured to transmit said source identifier to an externalcomputer locally connected to said client computer to retrieveadditional data from said external computer.
 18. The data decodingsystem of claim 17, wherein said client computer is provided by anencoded information reading (EIR) terminal comprising an EIR deviceincluding a two-dimensional imager, said EIR device configured toperform one of: outputting raw message data containing an encodedmessage, outputting a decoded message corresponding to an encodedmessage.
 19. The data decoding system of claim 17, wherein said clientcomputer is provided by a mobile computing device comprising at leastone of: an integrated imaging device, a peripheral imaging device. 20.The data decoding system of claim 17, wherein said client computer isintegrated into a point-of-sale system, said client computer comprisingat least one of: an integrated imaging device, a peripheral imagingdevice.